Newsletter

Posted April 16, 2014 07:26 pm

Letter: The real beneficiaries of economic development

The Topeka and Shawnee County Joint Economic Development Organization met April 2 to consider action on a contract for economic development services for 2015 through 2017. Unfortunately, the only bid was submitted by Go Topeka, the incumbent economic development provider.

Given Go Topeka’s continued involvement, there are issues that should be mentioned. The current, countryside half-cent sales tax will expire in 2016. Why award a contract for services beyond a time where there may not be any funding?

Go Topeka receives about $5 million dollars a year from the sales tax to fund economic development. The compensation for Go Topeka president Doug Kinsinger in 2012 was $156,343, plus retirement and other compensation of $9,800; bonus and incentive compensation of $53,207, plus nontaxable benefits of $11,298. The total was $230,648 for a reported 40-hour workweek.

Kinsinger is also president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. His compensation there for 2012 was a base salary of $122,841, retirement and other compensation of $7,700, bonus and incentive compensation of $22,163, plus nontaxable benefits of $8,877. The total was $161,581, also for a 40-hour workweek. Kinsinger’s total earnings for the year were $392,229. (The numbers are available in JEDO’s minutes for December 2013.)

In comparison, the president earns $400,000 annually, Kansas’ governor earns $99,636.42, a Shawnee County commissioner earns $45,599, Topeka’s mayor earns $23,599, a Topeka City Council member earns $10,000 annually, and the city manager earns $170,000.

On Jan. 23, Athene USA announced it will relocate its offices to Iowa. Topeka will lose more than 200 jobs. Topeka has been steadily losing jobs. JEDO needs to take a hard look at how well our economic development program is working. But then, we do still have a couple of good jobs in economic development here in Topeka.